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ERCP in the management of biliary complications after cholecystectomy

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Abstract

Open cholecystectomy has been associated historically with 0.2% to 0.5% risk of postoperative biliary injury. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which has become the first-line surgical treatment of calculous gallbladder disease, has been associated with a 2.5-fold to fourfold increase in the incidence of postoperative bile duct injury. The biliary endoscopist can expect to see a varied spectrum of complications after cholecystectomy by either technique, including postoperative biliary strictures, bile leaks, and retained calculi in the biliary tree. Proper diagnosis and treatment are paramount in ensuring a satisfactory outcome after bile duct injury. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has become the primary modality for treatment and effectively manages most bile duct injuries.

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  1. Suite M 2025, Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC, 20007, USA

    Firas H. Al-Kawas

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  1. Swati Pawa
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Correspondence to Firas H. Al-Kawas.

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Pawa, S., Al-Kawas, F.H. ERCP in the management of biliary complications after cholecystectomy. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 11, 160–166 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-009-0025-3

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